Posted on Jul 15, 2015
Who remembers standing in formation for mail call? Does the military still conduct mail call?
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I was recently reminded me of the importance and significance of mail call especially in the days before email, cell phones and texting existed in the 1950's 1960's, 1970's and I think through the 1980's. Waiting with anticipation in formation as a young enlisted man in sun, snow, rain or wind for mail call. The weather was much less important than hearing the names of friends called out to get mail and then hearing my own name which was wonderful. Going back to the barracks to smell envelopes from girl friends, read the letters on my bunk.
Later as a cadet at West Point one of the duties of the freshman class known as plebes was to distribute the mail to the upper classmen. It was a very important function and seemed to release a sense of common humanity and a brief period of humane treatment.
After I was commissioned in 1980, my mail was delivered to me except when we were away from home station when we would have mail call or else wait until the operation was over and then mail would be distributed.
Images: mail call wingen 70th ID WWII; Korean War early afternoon mail call brought these Thunderbirds in the 279th Infantry; Mail call! Pfc Glen Zachery of the 19th Army Postal Unit brings a sack of mail to the
Later as a cadet at West Point one of the duties of the freshman class known as plebes was to distribute the mail to the upper classmen. It was a very important function and seemed to release a sense of common humanity and a brief period of humane treatment.
After I was commissioned in 1980, my mail was delivered to me except when we were away from home station when we would have mail call or else wait until the operation was over and then mail would be distributed.
Images: mail call wingen 70th ID WWII; Korean War early afternoon mail call brought these Thunderbirds in the 279th Infantry; Mail call! Pfc Glen Zachery of the 19th Army Postal Unit brings a sack of mail to the
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend LCpl Jose Lugo for responding and letting us know you remember mail call from boot camp through deployment.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend LCpl Jose Lugo for responding and letting us know you remember mail call from boot camp through deployment.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend AA Loreen Silvarahawk for responding and letting us know you remember mail call and pay call.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in?page=20&urlhash=5449000
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in?page=20&urlhash=5449000
Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in? | RallyPoint
I remember pay call while being stationed in Bamberg, Germany in the early 1980's. I think pay call was only used for forces stationed overseas [expect that includes all Navy vessels as well] where a choice of currency to receive your pay made sense. Pay call made sense when many service members did not have direct deposit for their salary. I don't know if pay call still exists and where it is used. [Update July 19] I was an infantry training...
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MSgt Janice Trojan for responding and letting us know that you love mail call.
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Well Brother Steve, I don't know if you could call it a formation, more like a cluster.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend and brother-in-Christ PO3 Edward Riddle for responding and letting us know that for you mail call was more like a cluster
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I remember mail call and i remember standing in pay line waiting tobe paid in cash by the pay officer.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SGM Charles Barber for responding and letting us know that you remember mail call and pay call.
I am posting a link to my parallel question on Pay Call
Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in?
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
I am posting a link to my parallel question on Pay Call
Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in?
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
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Only in Boot Camp. By the time I got to my first ship, the Mail PO would get all the mail for our Division, then he would place it on our rack, if we weren't readily available. He would then take the mail up to the work center for the guys on watch.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend and brother-in-Christ CPO David R. D. for responding and letting us know that you had mail call only while you were in boot camp. Thanks as well for letting us that when you were assigned to your first naval vessel " the Mail PO would get all the mail for our Division, then he would place it on our rack, if we weren't readily available. He would then take the mail up to the work center for the guys on watch."
FYI PO3 Steven Sherrill ]PO3 Edward RiddlePO3 Charles Streich
FYI PO3 Steven Sherrill ]PO3 Edward RiddlePO3 Charles Streich
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I still love mail!!!!!!!!!!!! every day I go to post office. In basic I had a SSG that would write me. Everytime he wrote folks said Jan has a letter! He was so funny! Mine were read aloud.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MSgt Janice Trojan for letting us know that you love mail call and every day you go to the post office. I am glad to learn that in basic a SSG wrote you and evrybody enjoyed the reading of the letter out loud.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SGT (Join to see) for letting us know that the US Military still performs mail call. I expect that you also appreciate physical mail in letter or card form.
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